Footage has emerged of a driver using the hard shoulder of the M5 amid gridlocked traffic earlier today.

Motorists across Somerset faced hours of chaos after a collision between two lorries this morning (August 4) near Weston-super-Mare meant that two lanes of the road between junction 22 and 21 had to be closed.

The footage passed to Somerset Live by Lewis Clatworthy shows a driver trying to escape the traffic by driving on the motorway hard shoulder just before junction 22.

The silver car can bee seen to the left of the video using the hard shoulder to get past the traffic.

The driver in the silver car using the hard shoulder (Image: Lewis Clatworthy)

"In order to help drivers complete their journeys as quickly and safely as possible in these circumstances our teams have focussed on temporarily reopening all lanes. The slip road to join the M5 at junction 21 will also be opened.

"Once the traffic is eased we will complete the necessary resurfacing. Drivers are asked to help us by adhering to the reduced speed limit.”